340 students from 28 countries joined the new batch of students at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) on August 10, 2012. The largest cohorts were from Thailand (103 students), Myanmar (59 students), and Nepal (25 students). The new students will study in AIT's first batch under its Intergovernmental era. AIT aims to provide world-class education and conduct cutting-edge research.

1. 1
Asian Institute of Technology SEPTEMBER 2012
Incoming students of the August 2012 batch.
340 students from 28 countries join AIT
T hree hundred and forty students from 28
countries, from five continents joined the new
batch of students at AIT on 10 August 2012. At the
The new students come from Asia, Europe, Af-
rica, Australia and South America; with Thai-
land providing the largest cohort of students
orientation program, the students, who form the (103). Myanmar with 59 and Nepal with 25
historic first batch in AIT’s Intergovernmental era, students, are the other major countries of ori-
were welcomed to the Institute with a schedule of gin of the newest batch to enter AIT.
day-long activities and festivities.
Photo feature on page 5>>
INS I DE I S S UE . . .
Recent News / Happenings at AIT................................................. 2-4
Photo Gallery................................................................................. 5
Backpage...................................................................................... 6

2. RECENT NEWS / HAPPENINGS AT AIT
SEPTEMBER 2012 2
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visits AIT exhibit at the “National
Science & Technology Fair 2012”
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously
visited the AIT booth during her official tour of the
annual National Science and Technology Fair at the
Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre
(BITEC) on 22 August 2012.
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited the AIT
booth where she viewed several examples of current
research being implemented at the Institute, such as
a smart policeman mannequin that can detect traffic
violators instantaneously.
Dean Weerakorn Ongsakul explains the research on display
to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
This research, spearheaded by Dr. Mongkol
Ekpanyapong, Microelectronics and Embedded
Systems and Mechatronics and Dr. Matthew Dailey, Engineering and Technology (SET), is undergoing its
Coordinator of the Computer Science and Information final testing and is scheduled for release to the Royal
Management field of study, both from the School of Thai Police in 2-3 months.
Dr. Teerapat selected member of AIT launches Bachelor’s program
Board of Governors of Thai Public in Bio-systems Engineering and
Broadcasting Service Environmental Engineering
Dr. Teerapat San- AIT has signed a Mem-
guankotchakorn, Associate orandum of Agreement
Professor, Telecommunica- (MoA) with the South
tions Field of Study, School Asian Institute of Tech-
of Engineering and Tech- nology and Medicine
nology (SET) has been se- (SAITM), Sri Lanka,
lected as a member of Board to launch four-year col-
of Governors of Thai Pub- laborative international
Dr. Teerapat MoU signing ceremony in
lic Broadcasting Service Sri Lanka.
Bachelor’s degree pro-
Sanguankotchakorn
(TPBS). grams in Bio-systems
Engineering and Environmental Engineering.
Thai PBS is the first public TV broadcaster in South- The agreement was signed by Prof. Said Irandoust,
East Asia, and functions under the Thai Public Broad- AIT President, and Prof. Neville Fernando Chairman,
casting Service Act B.E.2008. It enjoys the status of a SAITM on 1 August 2012. SAITM plans to official-
state agency with legal responsibility, without being a ly start the four-year program in October 2012, under
government agency or a state enterprise. Dr. Teerapat which students will spend their first two years in Sri
and other committee members will supervise and help Lanka and will transfer to AIT during final two years.
the President of Thai PBS and its management team The new program will be offered by AIT’s School of
with policy inputs to facilitate its smooth functioning. Environment Resources and Development (SERD).

3. RECENT NEWS / HAPPENINGS AT AIT
SEPTEMBER 2012 3
AIT’s man in the UNDP Asia-Pacific Human Development Report 2012
Natural Resources Management field of study’s Dr. Clemens Grunbuhel
has made a mark in academic circles by contributing to the Asia-Pacific
Human Development Report 2012, published by the United Nations De-
velopment Programme (UNDP).
Dr. Grunbuhel is one of the principal contributors of technical back-
ground papers. The publication released in May was aimed at reinvigorat-
ing climate change dialogue by bringing people’s concerns into the fore
ahead of the Rio +20 Conference.Dr. Clemens Grunbuhelhas contributed
thematic case studies on Ganges-Brahmaputra and Mekong River delta
regions.
Dr. Clemens Grunbuhel
Dr. Kyoko Kusakabe authors, edits two books on gender in Asia
Dr. Kyoko Kusakabe of Gender and Development Studies, School of Envi-
ronment, Resources and Development, has contributed to the field of gen-
der studies in Asia with the release of two publications.
Dr. Kusakabe recently co-authored one book titled ‘Thailand’s Hidden
Workforce: Burmese Migrant Women Factory Workers’ and edited another
titled ‘Gender, Roads and Mobility in Asia.’ Both works have received con-
siderable favorable reviews from experts in academia, nongovernmental
organizations and the media.
Dr. Kyoko Kusakabe
AIT the hub for international effort to map Philippine flood from space
AIT emerged as the focal point of an international effort to
produce satellite imagery and high resolution maps to aid di-
saster relief operations following the floods in The Philippines.
Dr. Masahiko Nagai, Associate Director of AIT’s Geoinfor-
matics Center (GIC/AIT), spearheaded efforts to create up-
to-date satellite-generated maps for scientists at the Manila
Observatory and National Institute of Geological Sciences,
University of the Philippines.
Dr. Masahiko Nagai (left) with AIT students.
Starting on August 8, while collaborating with a number of
space agencies from around the world, Dr. Nagai analyzed team at produced a color-coded, high-
satellite images of Metro Manila and Luzon Island taken be- resolution composite image map of highly
fore and during the height of the flood. On August 14 the flooded areas.

4. RECENT NEWS / HAPPENINGS AT AIT
SEPTEMBER 2012 4
Remote Sensing Colorado State University and AIT to
Technology Center develop joint research program
of Japan (RESTEC) Colorado State University
signs MoU with AIT (CSU), Fort Collins, Colo-
rado, USA and AIT aim to
develop a joint self-sustaining
research program in the field
of alternative energy.
A MoU to facilitate the pro-
MoU signing ceremony at CSU. gram was signed by Dr. James
A. Cooney, Vice Provost (In-
ternational Affairs), CSU on 10 August 2012 during a visit of an AIT
delegation to CSU. The MoU seeks collaborative academic programs,
joint research activities, exchange of academic and scientific infor-
mation, and an exchange of faculty and students.The ceremony was
witnessed by Prof. Steven Abt, Interim Dean, College of Engineer-
Mr. Kaname Ikeda (left) and Prof. Said ing; Prof. V. Chandrasekar, Associate Dean for International Research;
Irandoust.
Prof. RamchandOad of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Profes-
sor Emeritus John D. Nelson; and Prof. Wade Troxell, Associate Dean
The Remote Sensing Technology for Research and Economic Development. AIT was represented by Dr.
Center of Japan (RESTEC) has Weerakorn Ongsakul, Dean, School of Environment, Resources and
signed a MoU with AIT to pro- Development (SERD); and Dr. Anil Kumar Anal, Associate Dean, Re-
mote research and dissemination search and Outreach, SERD.
of remote sensing technology in
the region.
New ties with education services in
The MoU was signed by Mr.
Kaname Ikeda, President, Gaungdong province
RESTEC, and Prof. Said Iran-
Guangdong Education Service of In-
doust, President, AIT on 23 August
ternational Exchanges, TianHe Center
2012. The MoU aims to encour-
(GESIE), People’s Republic of China
age collaboration in the field of (PRC) has signed a MoU with AIT to
earth observation data utilization conduct academic activities focused
including exchange of personnel, in the Guangdong province. Activi-
researchers and engineers; provi- ties will include partnership in Unified
sion of lectures and training; and Bachelor-Master Program; two-stage
promotion of joint research and Bachelor’s Program, as well as regu-
business. Signing the MoU, Mr. Prof. Said Irandoust (left) and lar Master’s and Doctoral programs.
Ikeda stated that RESTEC was Mr.Victor Chan.
established in 1975 with a focus
on remote sensing technology and The MoU was signed by Mr.Victor Chan, Director of GESIE, with
capacity building. Since then, it the AIT President, Prof. Said Irandoust on 24 August 2012. GEISIE is
has been working in research and the only official governmental organization in province authorized to
development in the field of remote handle foreign student affairs. During the next few months, delegates
sensing, and has helped in spread- from Guangdong Province will be visiting AIT to learn more about
ing the results of its research work. the Institute.

5. RECENT NEWS / HAPPENINGS AT AIT/PEOPLE
SEPTEMBER 2012 5
August 2012 Batch Orientation Day
2
1
3 4
5 6 7 8
9 10
Welcoming the students, Prof. Said Irandoust, President, AIT,
described the Institute as best of kind in “terms of contribution
to the development of the region.”
1. Welcome sign at Orientation., 2. Orientation of School of
Management, 3. Prof. Said Irandoust, 4,10,11. New students,
5. Prof. I.M.Pandey, 6. Dr. Nitin Afzulpurkar,
7. Dr. Barbara Igel, 8. Dr. Amararatne Yakupitiyage
9. Mr. Rajeev Sinha
11

6. BACKPAGE
SEPTEMBER 2012 6
AIT student Ashik Rajbhandari takes prize at 14th APNG Camp
Presenting his research entitled “Topic - Geo Mapping of Disaster Infor-
mation Using Ontology,” at 14th APNG Camp held in Seoul, South Ko-
rea, AIT Doctoral student Mr. Ashik Rajbhandari of Remote Sensing and
Geographical Information Systems impressed the Asia Pacific Network-
ing Group (APNG) community and was awarded the runner-up prize for
best research presentation.
His research proposes a more precise way to acquire information from cer-
tain databases. The system works as a relevant knowledge-based system
acquiring the objectives of identification, integration, semantic interopera-
Ashik Rajbhandari
bility, standardization and visualization of related information for disaster.
80 participants from 15 countries / territories attended this year’s camp.
News Google versus Facebook
You Is Google+ better than Facebook? PCWorld
“Coming up”
Can seems to think so. It has come up with nine • September 7-8
reasons to shift from Facebook to Google. AIT Day
Use http://goo.gl/C5fGW • September 10-12
Technology Needs
Assessment for
Gizmodo on the other hand claims that
Climate Change: A
Editor: Google+ will never beat Facebook.
Bajinder Pal Singh UNEP-GEF Project
bajinder@ait.asia Read here : http://goo.gl/i6ZvS
Designer: • September 20-24
Nadhika Mendhaka Asia-Pacific
Photos: At AIT, we have decided to embrace both
Paitoon Tinnapong International Model
channels. From this month, AIT is also on United Nation
For feedback, contact Google+. Conference
Media and Communications
Unit at AIT
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